Feast of Saint Anne

On Sunday, July 26, 2026, we celebrate the traditional Feast of Saint Anne, co-patron saint of Florence.

The celebrations will kick off with the historical procession of the Florentine Republic, departing at 8:45 p.m. from the Palagio di Parte Guelfa. The procession will reach Piazza della Signoria at 9:00 p.m., continue to the cathedral (Duomo), and conclude at the Church of Orsanmichele with the traditional presentation of the candle at the altar of Saint Anne.

The tradition dates back to 14th-century Florence. On July 26, 1343 (a day dedicated to Saint Anne in the liturgical calendar) a popular uprising forced the Duke of Athens, Gualtieri di Brienne, to flee. He had been imposed on the city and was considered a tyrant. According to tradition, this event occurred through the direct intercession of the saint, who from that time on became not only a figure of religious devotion but also a symbol of civic freedom and the protector of Florence.

On display in the Mezzanine Hall of Palazzo Vecchio is one of the most significant iconographic documents dedicated to this historical episode: a detached fresco attributed to Orcagna and dated between 1343 and 1349, originating from the ancient Stinche prison. The work depicts the expulsion of Gualtieri di Brienne in allegorical form and serves as a valuable testament to the connection between the figure of Saint Anne and the city’s civic history.